COVID-19 As We Enter May: What Should Employers Be Thinking About?
By: Megan Erickson Moritz | 05.04.2020
While legal considerations will vary by business priorities, practicalities, and industry, we have seen several recurring topics on employers’ minds as we begin a new month in this coronavirus pandemic. Below, I’ve outlined a quick list of topics to make sure your company is on top of: Leave requirements under Families First Coronavirus Response Read…
E-Verify COVID-19 Accommodation: New Temporary Rule for I-9 Compliance
By: Elizabeth Coonan | 05.02.2020
On May 1, 2020, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that expiring list B documents used for the purpose of validating an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States may be treated as if the employee provided a valid receipt for the document for I-9 purposes. DHS reasoned that, “Because many Read…
COVID-19 Update: Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants
By: Caitlin Klingenberg | 04.23.2020
Summary The highly anticipated Presidential Proclamation which suspends entry of certain immigrants during the economic recovery period of COVID-19 has been signed and will be effective at 11:59 pm today, April 23, 2020. In short, the suspension affects a limited group of foreign nationals – those who are outside the United States and without Read…
COVID-19 – Additional Employer Funding Sources
By: Cynthia Boyle Lande | 04.09.2020
Many businesses are asking questions about new SBA loans available under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Oftentimes businesses are not aware of other new resources available in the form of refundable advance tax credits — reimbursing the cost of employee wages paid in connection with COVID-19. In many cases, the credits available can exceed Read…
H-1B Lottery Concluded – Petitions May Be Filed Beginning April 1
By: Caitlin Klingenberg | 04.03.2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this week that the H-1B electronic registration process and the FY2021 lottery has concluded. Employers are now eligible to file a FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petition — provided they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process, and the registration was selected in the lottery. The Read…
DOL Issues Much Anticipated Guidance for FFCRA Paid Leave Requirements
By: Megan Erickson Moritz | 04.01.2020
Today, the US Department of Labor announced its much anticipated temporary rule, providing regulations to implement the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). These temporary paid leave laws are intended to help workers forced to grapple with challenges Read…
What Would a Shelter-in-Place Order Look Like for Iowa?
By: Ingrid Johnson | 03.31.2020
As of today, Iowa is not under a shelter-in-place order. Governor Kim Reynolds has declined to issue a shelter-in-place order, but it may be coming. Cedar Rapids Mayor, Brad Hart, has urged Governor Reynolds to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order and has contemplated issuing a local order and Des Moines Mayor, Frank Cownie, has Read…
Small Business Exemption to FFCRA
By: Megan Erickson Moritz |
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) contains a potential exemption for certain small employers who cannot afford to provide the childcare-related paid leave requirements under the FFCRA. Although we are still waiting on the official regulations to be issued by the DOL, there has been additional guidance issued by the DOL in the Read…
Are You Exposing Your Business to the Risk of Coronavirus-Related Litigation?
By: Ingrid Johnson |
We’re in the midst of dealing with COVID-19 and if you’re like many Iowa businesses, you’re just trying to keep up with the daily changes and problems the pandemic is bringing. But what about after the pandemic? Will there be a wave of Coronavirus-related litigation? How do you know if you’re exposing yourself now Read…
COVID-19 and Essential Service Personnel Guidance
By: BrownWinick |
The Iowa Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) provided guidance last week related to COVID-19 isolation requirements for essential service personnel. Essential services personnel include: Healthcare providers; Law enforcement; Fire & EMS personnel; Long-Term Care personnel; Residential Support Facility personnel; and Public Health & Emergency Management personnel. The guidance provides information about when essential services Read…